Klarinet Archive - Posting 000028.txt from 2000/03

From: "Buckman, Nancy" <nebuckman@-----.us>
Subj: RE: [kl] New Eb Clarinet?
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 11:49:49 -0500

To all the Eb experts out there,

We are getting ready to purchase a new Eb clarinet at one of the
colleges
where I teach and I would like some advice on what would be the best
choice
given that the primary concerns are:

1. Intonation
2. Quality

Thanks in advance for your help!

Best regards,
Jonathan Cohler

Mr. Cohler,

I must say that I feel more than a little out of place advising you how to
choose an instrument when I pay to hear you play and you know nothing about
me. But anyway, here goes. I have 25 years playing experience on the e-flat
clarinet for whatever that is worth.

I own both a Buffet R-13 and a Patricola e-flat. I have owned the Buffet
for 27 years and the Patricola for 1 year. After years of service and many
trips to the shop, the Buffet began to have pitch problems that couldn't be
fixed anymore or that would cost too much money to warrant fixing. So after
trying many (8-10) new horns in the Buffet line and three Patricolas
(standard grenadilla, grenadilla with some extra keys that I was interested
in and a rosewood one with the extra keys that I wanted), I had to make a
decision about what I wanted to play.

There were many variations in the Buffets that I tried and not one that
wouldn't require some sort of adjustment. The differences in the Patricolas
were not things that needed correction, but just things that differentiated
the three instruments from one another (grenadilla vs.rosewood, the weight
difference between the two types of wood, etc.). The price was much lower
on the Patricolas, too. I was also quite pleased with the response and
evenness of scale on the Patricolas. It had none of the pitch problems of
the Buffet and was even in tune in the altissimo range, something I couldn't
say for the Buffet horns. The keywork is first rate and they come with two
differing barrels and the bells of the C and Eb horns are scooped out up at
the tenon end. The C and Eb also have resonance holes in the bells, they
come with a nicely made case with a goody pocket on the outside, shoulder
strap, screwdriver and polishing cloth. They feel like velvet in the hand
and are beautiful to look at. The workmanship is second to none.

I bought the Patricola in rosewood (in addition to an A, Bb and C) because
of their lighter weight, and now have a matched set that I am most pleased
with. I have now owned these instruments for one year and the only thing
that I have had difficulty with is that they must be played constantly or
they will shrink and swell enough to cause small leaks around the left hand
ring pad cup. I have solved that problem with dampits. With all the
shrinking and swelling one would think there would be cracking, but that has
not happened in any of the four clarinets. Neither have I had any problems
with loose tenon or bell rings. I put Greg Smith mouthpieces on all four
(cocobolo on all but the eefer, which has a standard Greg Smith rubber
mouthpiece only because he doesn't make a wooden one for the eefer) which
was the only expense encountered outside of the cost of the instrument. My
Hites just didn't play well on the Patricolas. I have let my section mates
play them and they love them. I haven't had any negative comments from
anyone who has tried them.

One by one, I have had them padded in cork because I do a lot of pit work
and eat while I'm working. They are easier to keep clean this way (I can
take them apart and wash the keys). I am so pleased with them that I let
everyone I can know that they exist. I got them from Phil Muncy and I am
sure he can tell you anything you would like to know about them. I still
have my set of R-13's and use them for back-up. I think I'm going to have
to lend the R-13's out just so they get some use though. I have yet to have
a need for backups. Good luck with your search.

Nancy

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